Maxine L. Weinman

Sexual dysfunctions in depression

The incidence of sexual dysfunctions in a group of 51 drug-free depressed patients and in age- and sex-matched controls was studied. Three groups of sexual dysfunction were assessed: alterations of libido, genital symptoms, and menstrual irregularities. The Beck Rating Scale for Depression, the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were completed on each participant. Depressed patients obtained significantly higher scores on anxiety, depression, and alterations of libido than controls. Rating scale scores for anxiety and depression were strongly inter-correlated, making the separation of depression-related symptoms from anxiety difficult. In males, the genital symptoms correlated inversely with the L (lie) score of the Eysenck Personality Inventory. There were no inter-relationships between the three groups of sexual dysfunction.

Serotonin levels and platelet uptake during premenstrual tension.

Premenstrual tension was studied in 16 females, using both biochemical and psychological parameters during the pre- and postmenstrual phases. Uptake of serotonin (5-HT) and the levels of 5-HT in platelet-rich plasma and platelet-poor plasmas were determined. Degrees of distress experienced pre- and postmenstrually were quantified via the Moos menstrual distress questionnaire. The mean Vmax was significantly lower during the premenstrual (tension) phase (8.2 +/- 0.9 pmol/min) as compared to the postmenstrual (normal) phase (14.4 +/- 3.2 pmol/min). There was no significant difference in the Km values. A highly significant (p less than 0.001) reduction in the levels of 5-HT in platelet-rich plasma (-23.2%) and platelet-poor plasma (-19.1%) was found during the premenstrual phase. There were correlations between the kinetic parameters of 5-HT uptake and some of the Moos symptoms.

Factors affecting conjugal violence

This study presents information on 30 couples involved in marital violence within a sample of 60 couples who were seeking psychiatric assistance for marital conflict. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were used in data analysis. Key variables identifying battered wives were frequent alcohol use by their husbands, frequent marital arguments, a low educational level, and frequent legal drug use. Abusing husbands were characterized by backgrounds of family violence, frequent alcohol use, a low education level, and frequent marital arguments.

Young Fathers: An Analysis of Risk Behaviors and Service Needs

One hundred and twenty eight young fathers participated in an assessment of risk behaviors and service needs prior to entering a program for young fathers. Of this group, 73% were unemployed, 69% were school drop-outs, almost 40% had substance abuse problems, close to 30% had committed a felony, and less than half had declared paternity for their children. The majority of these young fathers desired employment services and educational/vocational training. Despite their risk behaviors, young fathers did not want substance abuse counseling, child support services, or help in obtaining a GED. There appears to be a discrepancy between the problems and needs, and the services which these young fathers requested. Many young fathers believed employment would be a panacea to all their problems. These findings suggest that more attention should be given to examining these issues in programs targeting young fathers. Services such as preventive health and mental health should be considered prior to the final goals of employment and establishment of paternity.

Incentives and their influence on appointment compliance in a teenage family-planning clinic

The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether or not the family-planning compliance patterns of indigent adolescents could be influenced by various types of incentives. From February 1988 through January 1989, 534 postpartum inner city teenagers, aged 12-19, who delivered at a large city-county public hospital, participated. Teens were randomly assigned to two treatment groups that either offered a coupon for milk for the infant or a gift for the teenage mother if they returned for their postpartum visit 4-6 weeks after delivery. A third group, which used no incentive for appointment keeping, acted as a control. Although overall compliance was low, a significant relationship was found between type of program incentive and compliance outcome. The program using milk coupons as an incentive had the best compliance rate. This incentive appeared to be most effective with black adolescents. Such incentive programs, although not without controversy, offer a potential way to enhance postpartum contraceptive appointment-keeping compliance in a high-risk population.

HIV testing and counseling among adolescents attending family planning clinics

This study examined whether an assessment tool combining HIV-related risk behaviors and symptoms would increase HIV testing and return for post-test counseling among 466 adolescents attending family planning clinics. The results indicted that high-risk behaviors were common among these adolescents. The majority (78.3%) identified themselves as not using condoms consistently, almost a quarter (24.7%) reported a history of STDs and 129 (27.7%) reported they had pierced their bodies. A total of 214 (45.9%) received HIV testing. Two (0.4%) adolescents, one male and one female, tested positive for HIV. Of the 214 adolescents who underwent testing, 183 (85.5%) returned to the clinic for post-test counseling. The results of this study indicated that adolescents who reported risk behaviors and symptoms were not more likely than those who reported no risk behaviors and symptoms to request testing and return for post-test counseling. In light of these results, the authors review the protocols associated with testing and post-test counseling and propose solutions that can potentially improve these processes. The authors recommend integrating a risk assessment tool with HIV testing in family planning clinics as testing and return for post-test counseling rates were high.

The Role of Condom Motivation Education in the Reduction of New and Reinfection Rates of Sexually Transmitted Diseases among Inner-City Female Adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to document the effectiveness of small group condom motivation education in reducing new and reinfection rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among female teenagers. Two hundred and five (205) female adolescents (age 13-20) with a current STD were studied at two sites of a Teen Health Clinic. There were 86 teens in the Study Group and 119 in the Comparison Group. Patients were sampled from December 1992 to July 1993. The patients in the Study Group received a condom motivation class given by the clinic STD educator in small groups of four or more adolescents. The Comparison Group, comparable in age and ethnicity, received treatment for their STD but did not participate in condom motivation classes. All teens were given treatment and condoms. The sample was followed for 6 months. The total number of patients returning with new infections was 21 (14.7%). The total number of patients with reinfections was 14 (9.8%). There were no significant differences between the Study and Comparison Group on return rates, new and reinfection rates or on any socio-demographic variables. The comparison of these groups suggests that a specific condom motivation class has minimal effectiveness in urban teens. However, almost 70% of the teens returned to the clinic for their scheduled visits. It is suggested that adolescent clinics which combine family planning and STD treatment services maintain high client enrollment and therefore may be ideal locations to initiate new and continuous interventions for condom use especially for high risk teens.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase and catecholamines in anxiety and relaxation

Levels of anxiety, plasma epinephrine and norpinephrine, and red blood cell (RBC) catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity were measured before and after 4 weeks of relaxation training in a group of 15 drug-free, anxious subjects and at a similar interval in a group of 15 drug-free, healthy controls. The index group showed significant decreases in levels of anxiety and plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine after treatment. No changes were observed in the control values. RBC COMT did not show any significant differences in activity between the index and control groups and between the pre- and posttreatment values. Similarly, COMT activity levels failed to correlate with levels of anxiety and catecholamines before or after treatment. These findings indicate that anxiety is unlikely to have an effect on RBC COMT activity, whereas it has a direct effect on plasma catecholamines.

Parental communication as a protective factor in increasing condom use among minority adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to examine ethnic differences in risk behaviors among adolescents who attended family planning clinics and to evaluate the impact of parental communication regarding sexual topics on adolescent condom use. The sample for this study included 697 black and Hispanic female adolescents ranging in age from 13-22 years. Ethnic differences were found in sexually transmitted infection rates, number of sexual partners, and condom use. Although black adolescents were more likely than Hispanic adolescents to report recent condom use, Black adolescents reported higher rates of sexually transmitted infections and more sexual partners. Black adolescents reported more parental communication about sexual topics than Hispanic adolescents. Parental communication was associated with increased condom use. The results of this study emphasize the importance of parental communication in risk reduction among adolescents. As ethnicity emerged in the study as a significant factor, interventions aimed at increasing parent-adolescent communication will have to be tailored to address the needs of specific ethnic groups.

Self‐esteem, adjustment, and locus of control among youth in an emergency shelter

One hundred and seventeen (117) girls and forty-six (46) boys, aged 9 to 17 years and newly admitted to an emergency shelter, were evaluated using self-esteem and locus of control instruments. These youth were primarily admitted due to child abuse or severe family problems. There were no differences on the instruments by sex, type of referral, family characteristics, or type of abuse. Overall results indicated poor functioning among the entire group. The authors discuss the need for early intervention for youth who are experiencing simultaneously both the trauma of abuse and out-of-home placement.